Golf playing surface



July 4, 1933. BwE 1,917,014

GOLF PLAYING SURFACE Filed Oct. 22, 1930 gwve'nioo George 5012295 Iz'y. 5 a

dttouuqo Patented July 4-, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT DFFICE GOLF PLAYING SURFACE Application filed October 22, 1930. Serial No. 490,430.

My invention relates to playing surfaces and particularly to a surfacing adapted to be used for golf courses and has for an object to provide a surfacing which may be readily repaired and which will resist wear and retain its original condition for an appreciable length of time.

An object of the invention resides in providing a surfacing comprising a foundation with a covering overlying the same, which may be held in place upon said foundation without the sole use of adhesives, binders or similar substances.

Another object of the invention resides in constructing the covering from juxtaposed disconnected particles of cotton seed hulls.

A still further object of the invention resides in providing a member in the form of a web imbedded within the covering and having pockets for the reception of certain of the particles of said covering to restrain lateral movement thereof.

A feature of the invention resides in employing expanded metal for such purpose.

An object of the invention resides in imbedding the expanded metal partly into the covering and partly into the foundation so as to hold the same in place to restrain lateral movement of the particles of the covering. Other objects of the invention reside in the novel combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter illustrated and/or described.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a playing surface with parts thereof cut away to show the interior construction thereof and illustrating an embodiment of my invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing a modification of the invention.

In the use of materials such as sawdust, cotton seed hulls and the like for playing surfaces where the same are held together through a binder having adhesive qualities, the surface soon becomes broken up and rendered unsuitable for playing due to the walking of the players upon the same. This is particularly true where players wear shoes with French heels which penetrate through the surfacing and distort and break up the same. The present invention overcomes this difficulty by providing a playing surface in 5 which the particles constituting the cover ing are held from lateral movement.

In the construction of a golf course utilizing my invention, a suitable foundation is first prepared. The foundation may consist of concrete or any other suitable construction, such as cinders, crushed stone, gravel or the like. In Fig. 1, the foundation has been illustrated as comprising cinders 10 of a suitable depth which are laid directly upon the earth 11 and properly tamped to form a smooth and compact surface.

Upon the cinders 10 is laid a web 12 preferably constructed of expanded metal which consists of integrally connected strips or members 13 formed out of the metal of the web and spread apart to provide pockets 14 therebetween. The web 12 is placed upon the cinders 10 and may be attached thereto through nails 15 arranged at the corners of said pockets 14 and driven into the cinders 10 and the earth 11. It can readily be comprehended that the members 13 of the web 12 as shown in Fig. 2 become partly imbedded into the cinders 10 holding the same from lateral movement relative thereto.

Upon the web 12 is placed a covering 16 consisting of particles of any suitable material such as cotton seed hull or the like. This material is placed upon the expanded metal web 12 and firmly pressed into the same so that the various particles of the covering become imbedded in the pockets 14 and completely surround the members 18 of said web 12. By means of said web, the various particles of the covering 16 are held in place and deprived of lateral movement so that a firm and immovable surfacing is provided over which the ball may be driven. If desired the material. from which the covering 16 is made may be provided with a binder to assist in holding the particles thereof together or the same may be utilized without the binder relying solely upon the web 12 for this purpose. Other materials such as sawdust and various fibrous substances may also be used in place of the cotton seed hulls to form the covering of the surfacing.

In Fig. 3 I have shown the surfacing mounted upon a foundation consisting of boards 17 laid directly upon the earth 11. In such case, the web 12 is held in place through staples 18 driven into the board 17 in much the same manner as the nails 15. It will be noted in the construction shown in Fig. 3 that the members 13 of web 12 also enter slightly into the surface of the board thereby holding the covering laterally immovable upon the foundation on which it is applied.

Whenever the surfacing becomes worn, the samemay be readily repaired by merely applying additional surfacing material to the worn spot and rolling the same down. In the event that the material becomes too firmly lodged within the various pockets 14 to hold the added material, the old material may be removed from said pockets before the application of the fresh material.

The advantages of my invention are manifest. The surfacing may be constructed with a minimum amount of material and the same firmly held from lateral movement. By constructing the web with small enough mesh the said Web serves to support the shoes of the player without danger of the heels thereof passing completely through the surfacing.

n this manner, it becomes extremely difficult to cut up the playing surface by walking upon the same. A much thinner layer of surfacing material may be employed than Where the same is loosely placed upon the foundation. As the surfacing Wears or becomes removed from the playing surface, additional material may be readily applied and the surfacing repaired in a simple and effective manner. The surfacing may be constructed continuous so that no joints whatsoever are present and the repaired portion may be made continuous with the original portion of the surfacing.

Changes in the specific form of my invention, as herein described, may be made Within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

In a construction of the character described, a moisture filtering foundation consisting of disconnected particles, a metallic web spread overthe surface of said foundation and consisting of a multiplicity of interconnected strips partially imbedded edgewise in the foundation and forming together therewith a multiplicity of pockets, a moisture filtering covering of disconnected cushioning particles poured into said pockets and over the web structure and packed to bind the covering particles together and to firmly imbed the upper marginal portions of said strips in the sub-structure of the covering, and to provide a firm playing surface which is secure against shifting movements in use and which may be readily repaired in areas where wear occurs.

In testimony whereof I have afiixed my signature.

GEORGE BOWES. 

